Oct. 18, 2002 – Some unionized teachers scheduled to receive wage increases as part of a 2002 labor agreement are still waiting. The governor's chief negotiator says it's a paperwork problem.
The 3 percent wage hikes were part of the deal worked out between the American Federation of Teachers and the Turnbull Administration during the 2000 teacher's strike. To process the raises, officials at the V.I. Division of Personnel and the Department of Education had to adjust personnel records to process paychecks at the higher rate.
According to Chief Negotiator Karen Andrews, that's where the problems appeared. "To date, 2,206 Notices of Personnel Action (NOPA's) have been prepared by the Department of Education and 2,070 NOPA's have been processed through the Division of Personnel and returned to the Department of Education," Andrews said in a statement released earlier this week.
Of the 136 that have yet to be processed, 37 were declared unverifiable, so Andrews said no raises have gone through. Another 99 are still awaiting verification.
Leaders of the AFT are keeping an eye on the process, making sure their members get their wage increases. President Vernelle De Lagarde of the AFT St. Thomas-St. John District said Friday that her counterpart on St. Croix, Tyrone Molyneaux, has raised the subject with Andrews, since he was instrumental in reaching the last wage agreement.
Andrews termed the delay an "inconvenience," and said Education, Personnel and the other agencies responsible for delivering raises to government employees would try to straighten out the problem as soon as possible.

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Oct. 18, 2002 – Some unionized teachers scheduled to receive wage increases as part of a 2002 labor agreement are still waiting. The governor's chief negotiator says it's a paperwork problem.
The 3 percent wage hikes were part of the deal worked out between the American Federation of Teachers and the Turnbull Administration during the 2000 teacher's strike. To process the raises, officials at the V.I. Division of Personnel and the Department of Education had to adjust personnel records to process paychecks at the higher rate.
According to Chief Negotiator Karen Andrews, that's where the problems appeared. "To date, 2,206 Notices of Personnel Action (NOPA's) have been prepared by the Department of Education and 2,070 NOPA's have been processed through the Division of Personnel and returned to the Department of Education," Andrews said in a statement released earlier this week.
Of the 136 that have yet to be processed, 37 were declared unverifiable, so Andrews said no raises have gone through. Another 99 are still awaiting verification.
Leaders of the AFT are keeping an eye on the process, making sure their members get their wage increases. President Vernelle De Lagarde of the AFT St. Thomas-St. John District said Friday that her counterpart on St. Croix, Tyrone Molyneaux, has raised the subject with Andrews, since he was instrumental in reaching the last wage agreement.
Andrews termed the delay an "inconvenience," and said Education, Personnel and the other agencies responsible for delivering raises to government employees would try to straighten out the problem as soon as possible.

Publisher's note : Like the St. John Source now? Find out how you can love us twice as much — and show your support for the islands' free and independent news voice … click here.

Oct. 18, 2002 – Some unionized teachers scheduled to receive wage increases as part of a 2002 labor agreement are still waiting. The governor's chief negotiator says it's a paperwork problem.
The 3 percent wage hikes were part of the deal worked out between the American Federation of Teachers and the Turnbull administration during the 2000 teachers' strike. To process the raises, officials at the V.I. Division of Personnel and the Department of Education had to adjust personnel records to process paychecks at the higher rate.
According to Chief Negotiator Karen Andrews, that's where the problems appeared. "To date, 2,206 Notices of Personnel Action (NOPAs) have been prepared by the Department of Education and 2,070 NOPAs have been processed through the Division of Personnel and returned to the Department of Education," Andrews said in a statement released earlier this week.
Of the 136 that have yet to be processed, 37 were declared unverifiable, so Andrews said no raises have gone through. Another 99 are still awaiting verification.
Leaders of the AFT are keeping an eye on the process, making sure their members get their wage increases. President Vernelle De Lagarde of the AFT St. Thomas-St. John District said Friday that her counterpart on St. Croix, Tyrone Molyneaux, has raised the subject with Andrews, since he was instrumental in reaching the last wage agreement.
Andrews termed the delay an "inconvenience," and said Education, Personnel and the other agencies responsible for delivering raises to government employees would try to straighten out the problem as soon as possible.

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Oct. 18, 2002 – This year's St. Croix Coral Reef Swim will bring at least 300 people to the island, organizing committee member Chris Goodier said.
"It's a good deal for St. Croix," she said
The seventh annual five-mile race from Buck Island to the Buccaneer Hotel's Mermaid Beach takes to the water at 7 a.m. Oct. 27. Participants will reach Buck Island by boat, swim across two miles of open water and continue along St. Croix's shoreline to the Buccaneer.
For the first time this year, organizers added a 10-mile Bucc to Buck and Back Again swim. It runs from the Buccaneer to Buck Island and back to the Buccaneer and will start at 6 a.m. Thursday.
Goodier said the event attracts people from all over the world. Last year, a Japanese swimmer got the award for traveling the farthest. About 30 local swimmers are included in the 160 entries.
Goodier said off-island participants bring their families and friends to the event. They stay at the Buccaneer and other hotels, in rental houses and with friends, she said.
"This event not only gives St. Croix international exposure, it helps fill hotel rooms, restaurants, taxis and tours during the slow pre-season period," said Buccaneer manager Elizabeth Armstrong.
Since registration is closed, residents and visitors who didn't sign up to swim can watch the finish at the Buccaneer's Mermaid Beach. Goodier said steel pan players will provide entertainment and DJ Roger W. Morgan will announce the swimmers as they exit the water and run through the palm-fringed finish line.
Last year, the first place solo award went to Alex Kostich, 31, of Burbank, Calif., who also won the two previous years. He won with a time of 1:44:13. Kostich, a former Pan American Games gold medal winner, will return in hopes of making it a four-peat, Goodier said.
Other swimmers to watch include Morgan Locke, 16, who took third last year with a time of 1:48:09, and James Barber, 42. Barber is a master swimmer from Indianapolis and will swim in both events.
Champion swimmers Jill Gellatly from Texas and Laureen Welting from San Francisco, a previous winner in the women's division, are also expected to compete this year.
Goodier said local volunteers make the event happen. She said about 80 kayakers will be out in the water to ensure the swimmers' safety.
Race categories for the five-mile swim include male solo, female solo, male solo with fins, female solo with fins, and a three-person mixed relay team. A junior division consists of male and female solo swimmers under age 18.
Winners receive custom-designed bracelets from the St. Croix-based Caribbean Bracelet Co.
Sponsors include Mongoose Radio, Isle 95 and Sunny 99.5 FM, Bellows International, HOVENSA, Coca-Cola, Cruzan Rum, Endurance Sports, V.I. Family Sports and Fitness Center, the St. Croix Yacht Club and Paint St. Croix.

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The Parent Teachers Student Association of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School is inviting all parents of students attend an important meeting at the library to discuss the options of parents and students of the twelfth grade regarding the inclusion of three additional courses for graduation.

Oct. 18, 2002 – The Parent Teachers Student Association of the Ivanna Eudora Kean High School is inviting all parents of students to attend an important meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, at the library to discuss the options of parents and students of the twelfth grade regarding the inclusion of three additional courses for graduation.
Election of officers will also take place.

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Oct. 18, 2002 – The Crucian Christmas Festival Queen Committee invites the public to a presentation of eight young ladies and three young men at 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 20, at the Educational Complex. The young ladies will be judge in speech and professional wear. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Pancho's in Sunny Isles, Ada's Creative Touch, Christiansted and Dawn's Place in Fredericksted. Children 12 and under pay $5 at the door.

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The Crucian Christmas Festival Queen Committee invites the public to a presentation of eight young ladies and three handsome young men at Educational Complex.
The young ladies will be judged for speech and professional wear.
tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Pancho's (Sunny Isles), Ada's Creative Touch (Christiansted) and Dawn's Place (Fredericksted). Children 12 and under pay $5 at the door.

The St. Croix Vocational High School will hold the School-To-Work Career Fair and Vocational-Industrial Club of America competitions on the school's campus.
The public is invited to attend.
For more information contact Carolyn McKenzie at 778-2216 ext 234.

Oct. 18, 2002 – The Parent Teachers Student Association of the Ivanna Eudora Kean Hisgh School is inviting all parents of students to attend an important meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, at the library. Options of the parents and students of the twelfth grade regarding the last minute inclusion of the three additional courses for graduation will be discussed.
Election of officers will also take place.

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